Help

Bella73

Hello

Trying this here as nobody in DIY section has answered so hoping some of you guys might be able to help us.

We have just bought a 1960's bungalow which has air vents in some of the walls.

Now we know why they were put there but last year the owner before us had all the wall cavity filled with that special insulation foam so therefore would it be ok to block the air vents? Especially as one doesn't even lead to the outside anymore as they built a utility room so one vent goes through to there for the sitting room.

They are quite ugly so would like to get rid of them if we can.

Hoping someone can help.

Thanks
Bella

phill99

When the bungalow was built there was an obsession with fresh air. Now there is an obsession with insulation.

It's ok to block them up. However, if there is a gas cooker or gas fire in the room, they will be needed for ventilation.

Bella73

phill99 wrote: »

When the bungalow was built there was an obsession with fresh air. Now there is an obsession with insulation.

It's ok to block them up. However, if there is a gas cooker or gas fire in the room, they will be needed for ventilation.

Thanks phill99,

No gas as all electric so we will block them up and open windows regularly.

sandsni

Air vents also reduce the amount of condensation in the house, so if you do block them up you might create problems with "damp" unless you compensate in other ways.

G_M

Do the go the wall into the rooms, or under the floors? If the latter they are important to avoid damp in the under-floor joists.

Bella73

G_M wrote: »

Do the go the wall into the rooms, or under the floors? If the latter they are important to avoid damp in the under-floor joists.

They are about 6ft high in the wall only. The floors are all concrete.

Davesnave

Air vents in walls don't typically go into the cavity, but right through, and they're usually sealed to the cavity, so the presence of insulation might be irrelevant.

I had a couple of these in my last house and I blocked them off without dire consequences, but I kept an eye out for the sort of 'damp' which comes with poor ventilation. There was none.

In my current 70s bungalow, which apparently had no original venting, the previous owners retro-fitted wall vents in the bedrooms and ceiling vents in the bathrooms. I've closed the noisy bedroom vents and left those in the bathrooms active, again without any consequences.

So, it's a matter of making a change and seeing what happens.

Whether you produce more condensation than previous occupants is due partly to lifestyle and also to the number of people using the house.